Sharks moved into the top spot in their pool with the 28-27 victory, which was orchestrated without several of the team's international players including Charlie Hodgson, Andrew Sheridan, and Sebastien Bruno.

Harlequins breached the Premiership champions' defence to score four tries in the close contest, with Sharks again missing out on a bonus point, crossing the whitewash just three times.

The spotlight, however, fell on the two fly-halves Daniel Larrechea, who had to leave the field with a suspected broken ankle after posting 13 points, and his kicking rival Adrian Jarvis who missed five of his eight kicks at goal.

Kicking accuracy would have been irrelevant, however, if Jarvis had scored with his most crucial and final attempt.

Had Jarvis converted Tom Williams' 89th minute try he would have clinched victory for Harlequins for the first time since their return to the Premiership this term.

Quins took an early lead in the match through Craig McMullen's try and held onto the advantage until late in the first-half. The impact of two penalties by Larrechea and a touchdown by Sale youngster Sean Cox were annulled by David Strettle's try and a penalty.

But four minutes into first-half injury time Oriol Ripol crossed the tryline to give Sharks the upper-hand at the break.

Quins' gutsy riposte by way of a Monye try, which Jarvis converted, reduced the deficit to two points but a Larrechea penalty and try for Sililo Martens bolstered the visitors lead to six points.

Williams' last minute touchdown almost cost Sharks victory but Jarvis' failure to convert the score allowed Sale off the hook.